SEIA Merges With Solar Alliance for State Policies

WASHINGTON — The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), the national trade association representing the solar energy industry, recently announced a merger with the Solar Alliance, an advocacy group that works to establish solar policies at the state level.

Effective immediately, the Solar Alliance will operate under the SEIA brand in an effort to present a unified solar industry voice in all advocacy efforts at the state level, a statement from the association said.

The merger will be beneficial in meeting the industry’s needs in a growing solar energy industry, according to association officials.

In 2010, 17 states installed more than 10 megawatts of new solar capacity compared to only four in 2007.

Carrie Cullen Hitt, president of the Solar Alliance, is now Vice President for State Affairs with the association, with the Alliance staff joining as part of her department.

“The solar energy industry is expanding and it is critical for SEIA to mirror this growth and put our resources and expertise into developing state policy that expand markets for solar energy,” said Rhone Resch, president and CEO of SEIA. “Adding Carrie Cullen Hitt and her top-notch staff to the SEIA team is a critical step as we continue to scale the U.S. market and move toward our goal of installing 10 gigawatts of solar annually by 2015.”

The organization has also established more formalized collaborative relationships with nearly a dozen state and regional SEIA chapters to coordinate efforts.

While the state and regional SEIA chapters will remain independent, the partnership will increase resources and coordination on efforts that align with SEIA’s policy goals in the states.

Current SEIA staff and resources dedicated to federal legislative and regulatory work will continue at the same level to direct policy efforts in Washington.

“The focus on state-level policy allows SEIA to speak as the voice of the solar industry in all government arenas,” Resch said. “We have important work to do to ensure solar energy has access to energy markets across the country and that solar is cost competitive in all 50 states. This is a major step in that direction.”